My good friend (well, actually, we’ve spoken twice, but it sounds good) Tracy Smith, is publishing her first book next month called ‘The Book of Rubbish ideas’.

For those of you who are wondering who Tracy is, she’s a writer and broadcaster on sustainable living. She also created the International Downshifting week – a campaign for a slower and more meaningful pace of life.

Her buzz phrase ’slow down and green up’ shares the message that we can all make our lives and meaningful and sustainable as we choose. Often these two qualities go hand in hand.

And, just like us here at Chez Green, Tracy believes in focusing on what we *are* doing, rather on what we are *not* doing. That’s the message we are hoping to get across during our own zero waste pledge and win week.

Tracy’s book, out on 25th September, will help you to clear out superficial ‘junk’ from your life and home, show you how to avoid unnecessary rubbish, reduce your waste and show you how to view your `rubbish’ as a resource. Wow – those are some of our values too!

Tracy has a very down to earth and practical approach to her writing, offering plenty of easy and affordable solutions. She is witty and upbeat with an inspiring style that will empower you to make significant and pain-free changes to all the rubbish in your life!

As a bonus, Tracy combines her wisdom and tips with helping you save money and time 😉

True to her word of a simple and ‘live lightly’ lifestyle, Tracy encourages us to go to a library and order this book so that we can read it for free. But many of us just have to acknowledge our book addiction and we need to own our dusty musty friends for snuggling under the duvet covers. So for you, dear readers, you can pre register you interest about the book and get 50% off the cover price.

£3.50 instead of £6.99. She’s true to her word – the money saving is starting already!

And if that’s not enough, a proportion of the profits from this book are being donated to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA). Tracy is a trustee of this charity which helps thousands of children of alcoholic’s, young and old, throughout the UK.

Did you know, there are over a million children living with an alcohol dependent parent in the UK today? Some of these children will suffer abuse, violence and aggression on a daily basis. But for others, the problems are more ‘subtle’ such as neglect, lack of emotional warmth or a chronic lack of the little things that make childhood enjoyable and nurturing.

These issues can affect children, but often do not come out until adulthood, when the ‘grown up’ realises they have massive unmet needs and have been living with repressed fear throughout their lives.

The NACOA offers advice, can reach teams of professionals to help families, raises awareness to the public and promotes research into preventing alcoholism developing in the children who grow up with it.

So when you’ve finished reading all about this wonderful charity and the work it does, go and take a peek at Tracy’s recipe for rubbish flatbreads too! If you’re as scared of making bread as I am, this little fella might be just up your street 😉

Tracy is donating one of her books to us here at My Zero Waste for us to give to one lucky winner. Keep checking back to find out where, how and when…………

Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:

Don’t throw it away… That's rubbish, just throw it away ... How many times have you heard that or said…

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (8)

Tracey is a fab gal and this promises to be a real treat. I can’t wait to get my hands on my copy…and I know what will be given out as Christmas presents this year. Congratulations Trace, all those hours under your desklamp will be worth it. ;-D

We’ve long shared taking the ‘carrot’ approach, with an upbeat and encouraging style, helping people get to grips with their rubbish and I remain convinced this is the right approach.

Thank you so much for highlighting the book here – it’s much appreciated and I’ll happily sign and dedicate the winning copy for your competition (it might coin in another 50p when it hits the charity shop shelves in years to come!!!)…

Hi Jen,
It’s so good to hear from you – I’ve been thinking about you recently and wondering how you are.
How is your clean bin project coming along? I’m hoping to get more time next month to visit friend’s blogs and start commenting more.

The book sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? I’m wishing Tracey lots of luck with this; I’m sure it will be a great success.